a few bits and pieces.....

I have had my blocks for Road Trip cut out and packed together for a while now.... (I take photographs for reference when I plan them) so my metimesewing at the machine has been working on these blocks this last week or so....

The fabrics are all flannels...

It's a great theme with all the postcards...

I do like a mixture of handwork and machine piecing....

The blocks don't take too long once all the pieces are cut ….

.. and now all the blocks are done....

Helen has hosted this No Fuss Stitchalong …..  it's always fun to see how others do theirs and the different fabrics chosen...

Being a passenger in a car has resulted in another penguin jumper... now there are 4.  I will keep going as I have a healthy stash of wool for them....

… and evening stitching has resulted in another block for Wings....  bird on a branch....

Righto, Gotto Go..... the day is started and there is heaps to get done....

FNWF

Thank you Chez for hosting us ...

FNWF  me time machine sewing I worked on some blocks I had started putting together a few months ago!

They are a loose weave muslin type fabric block stamped with designs - a New Zealand business that has since stopped I think

I had 6 rows already joined so I put the other 3 together and then joined them up.

I will back it with some white sheeting (which I already have) and do some loose quilting and it will make a nice light throw

I double dated last night with FNWF virtual and Friday night girls reality stitching where I worked on finishing off this little stitchery 

Righto, Gotto Go... after going to a big hardware/garden centre I have a bunch new storage boxes...  I need to clear up some space for my special guests to sleep and put their stuff!  Somehow my own stuff seems to spread all over the place!!!

Then I want to sew ...… but first I will pop over HERE and see what everyone else was doing last night

A new runner....

Another block for Wings and Pretty Things (designed by Michelle) is done.....

The stems are not straight... I'm going to have to pretend it was a windy day!! (apologies M)

I had fun quilting my Poinsettia runner

Each Poinsettia is a bit different in the white bits.... 

some feathers....

and more feathers but twirly...

I do find this kind of detail quilting a lot of fun... but it takes me ages.  I used a curved ruler in the grey (which slows me down too)

(size is 20" by 60")

There is silver sparkle in the grey... and it will be a Christmas runner.

This is made using the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Kind of Wonderful and the Poinsettia runner is a free pattern found HERE

I'm keen to get a mini ruler and use that too.... it is a fun technique and not hard 

I have been going at my scrap bins... bigger scraps (6" minimum) have been cut into large thimbles and the rest are being cut into strips

Teal, Pink and Purple are done and I have added some white and will start on making a Pineapple Quilt.

I purchased a ruler for this some time ago and the book

So it's all prepped and ready to go...

I really loved Jeanette's scrappy one seen HERE so I am copying that idea

This is the sort of thing I like to have ready for me time machine sewing and retreats. 

Righto, Gotto Go.... I need to prep up more blocks for Wings....

Weekend time... have a lovely one

More Christmas....

These panels were given to me some time ago and I had them pinned waiting for attention for a while...

I did some basic quilting around the edges of the design and some wriggly lines on the backing.

Pulled out my trusty overlocker and joined the sides... (no lining)

some binding and hanging loop on the end and they were done.... 

Included in the panel was a little door hanger to be made too.... and I found just the right coloured tassle to go on the end....

Great to have something that has been 'pending' for a while completed....

I also have a quilt finish now that the binding and label are done ... my darling little hedgehogs is now completed

(this is a sweet pattern by Melly and Me)

It's own special label was stitched.

You can see a bit of the quilting here... I went around the applique then some swirls in the open area and a fun loopy border.

I was thrilled that I had found the fabric for the backing at a sale... the colours are just right

Sheets were ordered to go on the bed... don't they match just perfectly?

Last week I jumped the queue (to be fair I was waiting on hearing back from someone and needed something smallish to keep me occupied) and did a bit more of my own quilting.... also for Christmas....

Righto, Gotto Go... that coffee is calling.... and a quilt needs pinning 

Have a lovely week....

Christmas came early .....

Hubz and I treated ourselves to a day-date adventure this weekend...  sort of our Christmas gift to each other ….

A train ride!

The steam train could not run ….

1.  because of high fire danger and sparks/coals flying around....

2.  because of the drought and the amount of water needed to run it.... some of these little towns are having to ship water in for their homes

The diesel was just as much fun (just different) and I just loved the old style carriages that a team of volunteers have worked to rebuild

Look at that gorgeous luggage rack.... 

Such a dry landscape.... we saw lots and lots of kangaroos which hopped away...

We were dropped off at Stanthorpe (the train went on to Wallangarra on the Qld/NSW border with other passengers)

Picked up and went on a lovely winery tour....

One winery does some wine in the Georgian fashion of huge clay pots underground.... (it was fantastic wine too)

… yummy lunch at another place....

…. gotta love a beautiful big gum tree....

… and even a brewery.... gosh that ice cold beer went down well after sipping wine for hours... (we visited 4 wineries and the brewery)

… back to the station to wait for our ride....

we were in the diamond carriage … called because of their windows …. 

… and from there watched the sun go down.....

dust and dry conditions do bring beautiful sunsets....

We just loved our day out....  

The volunteers run the service and are so wonderful, helpful and happy to be there sharing what they do and what they love.  People who lived near the rail track came out to wave, our wine tour was so well done (and included a lovely talk and explanation in the working area where they make the wine).  

Happy Christmas to Hubz and me....